Ghostbusters 3, postponed

Financial issues at Sony Pictures have reportedly forced director Ivan Reitman to push back the production of the horror spoof franchise's third instalment until next autumn at the earliest.

Despite having original director Ivan on board and a script from 'Men In Black 3' writer Etan Cohen ready, the delay looks likely to see Ghostbusters 3's release date pushed back until 2014, but there are also concerns the film may not be made at all, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Plans to make 'Ghostbusters 3' have been in the pipeline since 1996, but it is not known whether the film will be a reboot or a follow-up.

Ivan recently said: "Well, I'd like to go forward and make new things. I think 'Ghostbusters' probably should be remade, if we can get it all right. We're working on it, so we'll see."

Bill Murray - who starred in the 1984 original alongside Sigourney Weaver and Harold Ramis - is unlikely to reprise his role in the movie, but Dan Aykroyd looks set to return to the film franchise as Dr. Raymond Stantz.

What's more, Seth Rogen has emerged as favourite to be cast in the movie, with bookmakers Paddy Power offering odds of 3/1 that he will be part of the new ghost catching team, while Jack Black is 7/1 and Charlie Sheen is a 66/1 outsider.